Without her husband or any signs of compensation, his wife and three young children, in Durres, Albania, are having to survive on €150 - about £130 - a month.

But SMN has said it is awaiting the outcome of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigation before it takes its next steps.

It has already covered funeral costs, the company said.

In an interview recorded with BBC Radio Norfolk, Ahmet Bajrami, a relative of Mr Ismaili, said the family is struggling financially - especially as they have recently experienced a €30 cut to their welfare.

He said Mrs Ismaili and the children are living with her dad in her parent’s house.

When asked whether they had been contacted by the ship owners, Mr Bajrami said they have heard nothing.

A spokesman from SMN said Mr Ismaili had been under protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance, which covers a shipowner’s legal liabilities to third parties and is usually arranged by entering the ship into a mutual insurance club.

The SMN spokesman added: “We are trying to assist the insurances and identify the family. “They can’t pay compensation before the authorities finish the investigation.

“We are still waiting for the conclusion of the investigation in order to exclude any other scenarios.

“SMN have already covered the funeral costs from our account in order to not further burden the family.”

Mr Ismaili’s contract of employment states his next of kin should receive $102,308 and each dependant child $20,462 in the event of his death.

The ship is described as being on “time charter” to shipping firm Scotline Ltd. A spokesman from Scotline said they “do not own or technically manage the vessel”.

An inquest into Mr Ismaili’s death has been opened with the next pre-inquest review scheduled for August 16.